Advocacy
Why Read Aloud?
Contribute

Community
The Counterpane
Model Schools
Testimonials

Programs
Member Schools
Recommended Books
Auxiliary Books

One School, One Book

View the One School, One Book Video

Featured Books:

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Dominic by William Steig

A Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Frindle by Andrew Clements

 

One School, One Book Program

chimborazo-swansboro read aloud programOne School, One Book is a program designed to create a shared reading experience within a single elementary school community. A chapter book is chosen, every family in the elementary school receives a copy, and every family reads that book at home over the course of a single month. Activities at school coordinate, promote and enrich the shared reading experience.

News: Don't miss our training in Bentonville, Arkansas in Feb. 2010!

Learn more about One School, One Book:


About the Program

The program is modelled after All City Reads that have been done across the United States, from Seattle and Chicago to Richmond, VA. The program encourages reading together at home by enabling every family and by inspiring them with a shared experience.

The best titles for the program are those rare books that can be understood by early readers and yet still interest experienced readers. For example, E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan. Or Lynne Reid Banks' The Indian in the Cupboard.

Schools participating in the program can do a variety of things at school to heighten and promote interest in and discussion of the book, from school-wide assemblies to school-wide art and writing contests. Typically though, most schools rely on a daily trivia question, usually read by the principal to the whole school in the morning. This simple technique creates daily awareness of the book, and encourages in students deep, attentive, and personally gratifying listening habits. Students take pride in being in command of the book's details and "owning" the material.

Read To Them can put participating schools in touch with a consultant who can help each school tailor the program to fit their needs, and supply content to help the program succeed.

back to top ^